Chair of Trustees

Chair of Trustees

Voluntary role, expenses paid

Leatherhead, Surrey

ABOUT QEF

Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) is a national disability charity based in Surrey, with over 85 years’ experience of providing innovative services that support disabled people of all ages to increase their independence and live the life they choose.

We work with children and adults with physical and learning disabilities or adults with acquired brain injuries. Whether it’s developing life skills to live as independently as possible, neuro rehabilitation to rebuild a life after a brain injury, learning to drive a specially adapted car or loaning mini powered wheelchairs to young children without independent mobility.

Our teams provide expert advice and life-changing services that enable almost 10,000 disabled children and adults a year to develop key life skills, increase mobility and maximise their independence.

In June 2020 QEF celebrated 85 years of providing expert services that enable disabled people to maximise their independence and live the life they choose.

In July 2020 QEF opened the £15 million state-of-the art Care and Rehabilitation Centre (CRC), a centre of neuro rehabilitation expertise supporting people across the South East of England. Through this landmark build, QEF aims to be at the forefront of neuro rehabilitation for people with an acquired brain injury or other neurological condition, using accessible technology to support clients and their families through what can be a very difficult journey.

As we build on our heritage and expertise, we are looking to the future as we are developing our new 5-year strategy to determine our future direction for sustainability and success.  We are excited about entering the next chapter in our history.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Chair provides strong leadership to the board of trustees to ensure QEF develops and achieves its strategic objectives, complies with its leal duties, and delivers maximum impact to its beneficiaries.  The role ensures that there are effective relationships with the CEO and senior management team to bring both support and constructive challenge in the best interest of QEF.

In partnership with the trustees and CEO the Chair acts as an ambassador for QEF, assisting in raising awareness of the work we do, representing us at external events, building constructive relationships with stakeholder and supporting our ambitious fundraising plans.

The Chair is a champion and exemplar of QEF values.

ABOUT YOU

The new Chair will bring a strong understanding of the role of Charity Boards as well as governance experience and significant strategic leadership.

Your strong interpersonal skills will build relationships across all stakeholders, motivating and bringing people together to deliver the best possible results for QEF.  You will have sound independent judgement and will encourage others to do the same.

You will demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to QEF, its strategic objectives, cause and values.

A knowledge and understanding of the voluntary sector, charity governance and the current issues affecting the sector is essential and experience of the health and social care sectors is desirable.

THE COMMITMENT

The Chair will join an energised, committed, and hardworking Board who are passionate about supporting the work of the charity and delivering a secure future for QEF. 

The term is 3 years initially with a requirement to chair 6 Board meetings annually and participate in other Board Committees, attend meetings and events.  Board meetings are usually held at QEF sites in Surrey or via MS Teams.

All Trustees are expected to demonstrate the values of QEF and the seven Nolan Principles of public life.

TO APPLY

If you have the experience and dedication to join us, please get in touch. 

Send your CV and covering letter by email to Tiffeny Johnson via the link before 30 June 2021.  Telephone 01372-841207.

QEF is committed to achieving greater diversity and welcomes applications from currently under-represented groups at Board level.  As a Disability Confident Employer we encourage disabled applicants.  Please advise Tiffeny if you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.

Recruitment Timetable

Closing date:

First stage: telephone interviews mid July

Second stage: Interviews/visit w/c 26 July